Rating: 
Summary: As Harry matures, so does his story.
Review: The third in the popular Harry Potter series was a perfect successor to "Chamber of Secrets." Again wicked forces want to destroy Harry and his friends, and again it is up to them to stop the destruction. The new creatures, courses, and characters fit in well with the world that J. K. Rowling has created, and you and/or your child will grow to love or despise each and every one of them. It retained the magic, mischief, and intelligence of its predecessors, but had a more mature tone. The villains and evil creatures had a much darker presence than those of past books, and the meddlesome Muggles (non-magic populus) even more odious. In a sense the writing has grown just as Harry has in the past three years. Some of the themes are a lot less whimsical: death, revenge, and powerlessness. The plot, too, is more mature. Concepts like time travel paradoxes could be over some heads, and the plot lines were rather involved, compared to the first two books. Know the child you are giving this to. Perhaps the young reader has grown at the same rate. I could imagine being a ten year old and fantasizing about all of the wonderful things I could do if I had one fourth of Harry's powers. I could also imagine identifying with many of the struggles of Harry and his friends- bullies, adults who don't understand you, overextending yourself, and trying to fill the shoes of older siblings. As an adult who grew up on the innocence of the Oz series (L.Frank Baum, Ruth P. Thompson), I was reminded of the enjoyment I felt reading about such fanciful adventures. I think I would have enjoyed the Potter series when I had graduated from the Oz books. I certainly enjoyed them now. I can't wait for book four.
Rating: 
Summary: The Series Just Keeps Getting Richer and Deeper
Review: The third in the series of Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J. K. Rowling builds delightfully on the promise of the first two and sets the scene nicely for the fourth adventure. The usual themes of whimsical invention and things not being what they appear are carried over but now there is a deepening sense of terror, such as added by the quite frightful Dementors, with a richer emotional tapestry as the lives of Harry Potter's deceased parents is explored. The series only grows richer with each volume but without losing any of the initial charm that made it a hit in the first place. This balancing act is the true achievment of the series and the author looks set on continuing this throughout this entire wonderful sequence of adventures.
Rating:
Summary: Get Sirius!
Review: The third installment in the Harry Potter series follows Harry as he returns to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with best buddies Ron and Hermoine. This year, even the Minister of Magic himself is taking a personal interest in Harry's safety. It seems that one of the evil Lord Voldemort's henchmen, who was instrumental in the death of Harry's parents, has escaped from Azkaban Prison after saying, "He's at Hogwarts!" All the staff keep are keeping a close eye on Harry, who, of course, meets the escapee, Sirius Black. The second half of the book concerns Black's days at Hogwarts with Harry's parents, Severus Snape, and a classmate named Peter. There is too much talk and not so much action in this book. I missed seeing more of Harry, Ron, and Hermoine together. Still, it is a HP book, and well-written as they all are, and it sets the stage for Book 4. Another page-turner form JK Rowling that all ages will enjoy!
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Summary: Escape with the Prisoner!
Review: The third installment in the Harry Potter Series is definitely my favorite so far. (I have yet to read the fourth book). While the "Prisoner of Azbakan" is a bit longer than the first two books, I found that the story was much more enjoyable and better written. The story in book 3 is not as 'cookie-cutter' as it is in the first two books in the series. At the start of the book we once again find Harry hating life with his muggle aunt & uncle and eagerly looking forward to the start of the school year when he can return to Hogwarts. The book introduces us to several new characters including a new Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin and a Divination professor. The Prisoner in the title is Sirius Black, an escapee from Azbakan, a prison for witches and wizards. Just before the start of the school year, Harry overhears some people talking in the Leaky Cauldron that Black is after him. For this reason, Harry will be watched over very closely during the school year at Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione once again have their share of magical adventure but with a few unexpected twists and turns this time around! A great, entertaining read (even if you are more than twice Harry's age!)!
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Review: The third of the series focuses on Harry's third year at Hogwarts. The school year does not get off to a good start, Harry runs away from his aunt's and uncle's house after blowing up Auntie Marge! Without Uncle Vernon's signtaure on the permission slip, Harry is not allowed to go to the wizard's village Hogmenade with the other students. Upon arrival of Hogwarts, Harry finds out about Sirius Black, one of the most feared of Voldemort's cohorts, is after him. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban, the wizard's prison, but left a clue as to where he was headed. At the same time, Harry and his friends Ron, Hermione found out about how Sirius might be the one who betrayed Harry's parents, James and Lily. In this third of the Harry Potter series, we come to know more about Harry's parents and why Voldemort persistently goes after Harry. The final Quidditch match also approaches as everyone keeps a close watch on Harry as the dementors lurk around Hogwarts. Meanwhile, Hagrid's favorite pet Buckybeak faces to be executed after hurting Draco Malfoy. How would Harry cope with the life-threatening encounter with Black as predicted by Professor Trelawney of Divination class? Book 3 is the best so far in terms of a storyline full of suspenses, mysteries, horrors, and twists-and-turns. Another good read! 4.3 stars. Revised 2/14/2003
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Summary: I guess another review is not really needed, but...
Review: The third Potter book has proven to be the best so far. Now that all the introductory material is out of the way, Rowling can just concentrate on telling an excellent tale of intrigue and magic. There are too many interesting twists and turns for the reader to discover for themselves to bother with here, suffice to say, this series keeps improving. All the best fantasy classics have a dark side and I think Rowling is just starting to investigate the dark side of Harry Potter's adventures. I look forward to the next episode.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely terrific
Review: The third volume in J.K. Rowling's astoundingly successful Harry Potter series is an exciting and compelling read from page one. Here again are all our favorite characters, both good -- Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Dumbledore - and bad - Professor Snape, Draco Malfoy -- and a host of new ones to whet the reader's imagination. There's a serial killer on the loose who seems to have escaped from prison with the intent of inflicting mortal harm on our illustrious hero. Rowling writes with gusto. The plot barrels along with one twist and turn after another with a fair amount of humor to keep things from getting too dark, although of the first three novels, this is certainly the most frightening,the most violent, and perhaps the most poignant. The reader learns more about the events leading up to the death of Harry's parents and, as it turns out, the circumstances surrounding this defining event in our young hero's life are shrouded in mystery. Rowling keeps you guessing until the climax. Aside from the plot, Rowling succeeds best in making Harry a real, flesh-and-blood character confronted with questions and emotions that many of us face. Whether we're thirteen years old or thirty, there is something here for everyone to relate to, even the most jaded of readers. There's a bit of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in all of us.
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Summary: Excellent sequel to Chamber of Secrets!
Review: The trouble starts for Harry with a weeklong visit from cruel Aunt Marge who goads and torments Harry until he snaps! The visit ends with a bloated Aunt Marge floating near the ceiling and Harry fleeing from the Dursley's home. Fearing that he is in trouble for using magic outside of school and he will be reprimanded by the Ministry of Magic, Harry makes his way that night to Diagon Alley on the Knight Bus. At the Leaky Caldron, Harry accidentally runs into Cornelius Fudge and finds out that he isn't expelled from Hogwarts or even in trouble at all for the magic he used on Aunt Marge! Two weeks later, Harry meets up with his best friends, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Ron's family. However, the night before Harry returns to Hogwarts, he overhears Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talking about Sirius Black who is rumored to be a Servant of Lord Voldemort and who murdered thirteen people with one curse. Black escaped from Azkaban and the only hint he left behind were the words, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts." The next day on the Hogwarts Express, several dementors enter the train and search for Black. One of the dementors severely affects Harry with its dark power until the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor R. J. Lupin, makes it leave. When the students arrive at Hogwarts, Dumbledore announces that Hagrid will be the new "Care of Magical Creatures" teacher. During Harry's first lesson with Hagrid, Hagrid warns the class that the hippogriffs they are working with (creatures half horse, half eagle) are proud and will attack if insulted. Harry successfully flies on the back of a hippogriff called Buckbeak but when Malfoy takes his turn, he insults the hippogriff and gets a deep slash down his arm. When the Gryffindors return to their tower after the Halloween Night feast, they find that the Fat Lady's portrait has been torn. The students and staff then learn from the school poltergeist, Peeves, that Black had tried to enter the tower but couldn't without the password so he attacked. During the first Quidditch match of the season, Harry sees a large black dog that he thinks is a Grim, an omen of death for anyone who sees it. Then dementors swarm the field and Harry falls from his broomstick. The broomstick is blown away and hits the Whomping Willow. At Christmas, while the other students third year and above are at Hogsmeade, Fred and George give Harry the Marauder's Map written by Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs which shows Harry a side of Hogwarts he has never seen before. Mysteriously, at Christmas, an anonymous person sends Harry the best broom in the world, a Firebolt! Right after Harry finishes his Divination exam, on the day that Buckbeak is to be executed, Professor Trelawney goes into a trance and predicts that Voldemort will return with his Servant's help. All your questions will be answered and mysteries solved, along with exciting plot twists and turns in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It's a must-read!
Rating:
Summary: We're Captured by JK Rowling
Review: The twists and turns in The Prisoner of Azkaban keep you flipping through page after page to find out what happens to Harry and his friends. No one we know has been disappointed by the third book in Rowling's spectacular series. We recommend this book for kids, teenagers, adults, and even a pesky rat or two. It's the best fantasy of the millennium! Angela, Amy, Hilary, Heather, Jesse
Rating:
Summary: Another of our favorites
Review: The whole Harry Potter series certainly hooks you from the first. Little did I know that it's not only addictive but it also casts a very powerful enchanting spell because you just can't stop reading! An outstanding book that our family has enjoyed.
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